Swing-bridge.



J. B. STRAUSS.

SWING BRIDGE.

APPLICATION FILED APR-3.1914.

MWMM, Patented 0ct.26,1915.

j J 1 l /5 74 v JOSEFHB. 'STRAUSS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SWING-BRIDGE.

intense.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 2'6, 12.15.

Application filed April 3, 1914. SerialNo. 829,163.

To'all whom it may concern:

Be it known that {1, Josnrrr B. Srasnss, a citizen of the United States,'res1d1ng at 'Ghicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in SWingBridges, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to swing bridges and has for its object to provide a new and improved device of this description.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figure 1 is a view showing a swinging bridgegembodying the invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged view showing the center pier and the parts of the bridge adj ac ent thereto} Fig; 3 is a view showing a pair of truck wheels under the central portion of the bridge; Fig. 4 is a plan view of the pier; Fig. his a View showing the part of-the controlling mechanism for the outer ends of the bridge; Fig. 6 is a side view showing ope of the trucks and the brake therefor; Fig. 7 is a plan view showing a modified form of the pier; Fig. 8 is a side'view ofthe top of the pier shown in Fig.7.

Likenumerals refer to like partsthroughout the several figures.

In the construction illustrated the bridge span consists of a central pivot part 1 of truss or girder construction mounted on a central pier or supports, the ends 2 and 3 thereorv being cantalivered beyond the pier or supports. Movably connected with the cantalivered portions of the central section are the simple span trusses 4 and 5. These trusses or girders are movably or pivotally bridge.

- As herein shown, thesimple spans or end.

sections are pivoted at 7 to the cantalivered ends of the central portion. At each end of thecentral portion or section are two members 8 and 9 pivoted together. The membar 9 is pivotally connected at 10 with the .ends of the members 11 and 12, which are also pivoted together. The member 12 is pivotally connected at 13 to the simple span and the member 11 is pivoted at 14 to the central portion. Connected at the joint bework on the circular track 21.

tween the members 8 and 9 on each side of the central portion are racks 15. These racks 15 engage a pinion 16 on a shaft 17 driven by a motor in the machine house 18.

It will be seen that when the racks are moved inwardly, the members 8 and 9 will be also moved inwardly so as to shorten the distance between the points '3' and 10 and lift the outer ends oi the simple span. This relieves the weight from the end supports and permits the bridge to be easily opened. When the bridge is again closed, the racks 15 are moved outwardly so as to bring the parts 8 and 9 in alinement thus lowering the outer ends of the simple spans.

The central pivot part or section is supported upon a plurality of trucks 19. These trucks are provided with wheels 20 which The trusses or girders of the central part are arranged so that the weight is concentrated at certain main points, as for exainple at the four corners 22, and the trucks are connected to the 7 central part at these points where the weight is concentrated, thereby distributing the weight from these points into the trucks. The trucks may becoiineeted t0 the central part at thesepoints in any desired manner as by means of the pin 23. The bridge is rotated by applying power directly to the wheels of these trucks as by means of the shafts 24 and gears 24 driven by the motor 25 controlled from the machine house 18 (see Fig. 3). It willtherefore be seen that when it is desired to open the bridge the wheels of the truck are driven and they support and carry the bridgearound upon the circular track 21, at the same time evenly subdividing the weight and carrying it into the pier at all positions of the bridge.

Some means is preferably provided for relieving the wheels from the weight carried on the structure when the bridge is closed. As herein shown this is accomplished by means of the wedges 26, (shown diagrammatically inFig. 3) which coactwith blocks 27 located in proper position and which coacts with parts 28 directly beneath the pins 23. It will be seen that when these wedges are driven into their operative positions, they take the live load weight and relieve the truck wheel. These wedges may be con trolled in any desired manner. As herein shown, they have connected therewith arms 29 which are connected to pivoted links 30, which in turn are connected by links 31' with iio the members 8. When the members 8 are moved to lift the outer ends of the simple spans, it will be seen that this same movement moves the wedges 26 to their inoperative positions so as to transfer the weight of the structure to the wheelsof the trucks, and that when the members 8 are straightened out the wedges are again driven into their operative positions so as to directly connect the bridge span with the central support. The wedges and coiiperating parts acting to prevent displacement of the span when the live load is applied thereto. The central pier may be arranged in any desired mannor. I prefer to provide four separated piers 32 (see Fig. 4) and connect them at the top with the top piece 33 of reinforced concrete or other suitable material, said top piece acting as a support for the track. When the bridge is at rest in its closed position, the weight is directly supported by the separated piers 82.

In Figs. 7 and 8 I have shown a construction where instead of four piers there are two piers 32* which are walls extending entirely across the support. These walls are connected together by the top piece 33* as shown, the top piece 33 of reinforced concrete or the like said top piece havingthe lateralside projections 33* (see Fig. 8). I provide some means for stopping the bridge at any desired point. As herein shown, the trucks are provided with the truck shoes 3a adapted to clamp the heads of the rails of the track. These truck shoes are of the usual form used for this purpose and may be, for example, controlled by the toggle arms 35 controlled by the nuts '36 on the rods 37, said rods being controled by a suitable motor from the machinery house 18. It will be seen that when the truck shoes are applied to clamp the heads of the rails, the bridge will be stopped and held rigid in the posi tion it then occupies.

I have described in detail a particular construction embodying my invention, but it is of course evident that the parts may be varied in many particulars, and I therefore do not limit myself to the particular construction shown.

I claim:

1. A swing bridge, comprising three truss sections, a central truss section and two relatively light endtruss sections, acentral support upon which the central truss section is carried, said. central truss section having both ends cantalivered a substantial distance beyond the central support, said end truss sections having a limited pivotal connection plurality of with the cantalivered ends of said central trusssection, a plurality of trucks, said trucks pivotally connected with said central truss section at intervals on the circumference of a circle thereon, each truck having a wheels, a track on said central support upon which said wheels are supported, whereby when the bridge is open, the weight of the bridge is evenly transmitted .through the central truss section to the points where the trucks are connected thereto, and then spread out from each of said points and equally distributed to a plurality of points on said track and central support.

2. A swing bridge, comprising three truss sections, a central truss section and two relatively light end truss sections, a central support upon which said central truss section is carried, said central truss section having bothends cantalivered a substantial distance beyond the central support, said end truss sections having a limited pivotal connection with the cantalivered ends of said central truss section, whereby the centraltruss section acts to support and distribute the loads from the end truss sections and transmit the balancing efiect from one end truss section to the other when the bridge is open.

3. A swing bridge, comprising a bridge span, a support therefor upon which said span is rotatably mounted, a plurality of trucks connected at intervals to said bridge span on the circumference of a circle, each truck having a plurality of wheels, a track upon which said wheels have a rolling contact, said wheels carrying the weight of the bridge span when the bridge is open, and a movable part between said support and each truck for carrying a portion of the weight when in its operative position and when the bridge is closed, operating-mechanism at a distant point for moving said movable parts into and out of their operative positions so as to relieve the pressure on said wheels when the live load comes on the bridge span.

t. A swing bridge, span made up of three sections, a central section and two end sections, said: end sections pivotally connected with said central section, operating mechanism for moving said end sections about their pivotal connecthe bridge is closed, to said support to relieve said rotatable connection, and an tuating connection between said operating mechanism and said movable parts, whereby when said operating mechanism is operated to lift and lower the ends of said end sections, said movable parts are moved out of and into their operative positions.

5. A. swing bridge, comprising a brid e span, a support therefor upon which said span is carried, a rotatable connection be- 18 comprising a bridge 105 are transmitted to said 115 1,158,084 I at tween said bridge span and said supportthrough which the dead load stresses are transmitted tosaid support, a plurality of movable ,parts which when in their operative position directly connect the bridge span with said support so as to transmit a portion ofthe load when the bridge is closed to said support to relieve said rotatable con-. nection, operating mechanism for lifting the ends of said spamwhen it is desired to rotate the span, andfan actuating connection between said operating mechanism and said movable parts for moving said movable parts into and out of "their operative positions.

6. A swing bridge, comprising a rotatable section, a second section pivotally connected with the rotatable section, a movable mem- I ber connecting the two sections together, said movable member provided with an intermediate joint, a second movable member connected at one end with said first movable member intermediate its ends, a d at the other end with said rotatable se t'on, said second member provided with an intermediate joint, and actuating mechanism connected with said second member between its ends for bending it at .said intermediate JOSEPH B. STRAUSS.

Witnesses:

- LAMEL M. DOREMUs,

BESSIE S, RICE. 

